Developer backs out of theater-condos plan for Bayshore Drive in East Naples

Native to the region, the wild turkey was adopted as Collier County's emblem by the Board of County Commissioners at their first meeting held on July 7, 1923. When the county seat was relocated to East Naples in 1962, the emblem was incorporated into the County seal that was designed by Margaret T. Scott. Scott was Clerk of Courts from 1959 until 1976.(Photo: Courtesy of Collier County)

A parcel of land that long has been eyed as a catalyst to spark redevelopment in that part of East Naples will have to wait a little longer to be transformed.

A developer had proposed to build apartments, condos and a theater on 17 acres. But plans for the land will start anew after the developer backed out of buying the property from Collier County.

The site backs up against Sugden Park on the eastern side of Bayshore Drive between Lunar Street and Jeepers Drive.

Collier County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to end negotiations with Arno Inc., the developer who had been in talks with county staff about the project. The developer's financing fell through earlier this month.

The Bayshore Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Agency now will try to figure out new plans for the land, said Debrah Forester, director of the CRA.

"This gives us a chance to take a step back," she said.

The CRA plans to solicit input from the community to see what the top priorities for the land are, followed by conversations with the county's parks and recreation staff, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and others.

"If a developer wanted to present a proposal, we would look at it," Forester said. "But right now our goal is to get some public input."

Arno had proposed building up to 244 apartments and condos, along with a 1,000-seat theater and plaza of stores and restaurants. In February, commissioners voted unanimously to push forward plans to sell the 17 acres to Arno.

However, Arno's source of financing, Developer Capital, withdrew its commitment to the project earlier this month.

Forester said the financing group backed away in part because it was looking for financial incentives or contributions from the CRA. The group also was considering rental apartments, she said.

Under an agreement between Arno and the local nonprofit Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Arno would have donated the land for the theater if the center raised the money to construct it.

The facility would have cost an estimated $50 million to build.

Bill Drackett, president of the Cultural and Performing Arts Center, said the center still is committed to working with the Community Redevelopment Agency and county commissioners to develop a visual and performing arts center on the 17 acres.

"The attraction is to have the village aspect along with the performing arts center," he said.

Drackett said CAPA is working with consultants to develop a plan for the center, which would be a home base for local performing and visual arts organizations.

The trend, nationally and internationally, is to have a theater with "a more intimate feeling," which would mean the venue would likely have between 450 and 550 seats, he said.

Past plans for a venue that could seat 1,000 patrons "was in the discussion way back when," Drackett said.

"People like the more intimate feel," he said.

Once a plan has been developed and a location set, the organization would go into "serious fundraising mode" to build the venue, Drackett said.

The CRA wants to continue to be engaged with local arts groups as it shapes a plan for the property, Forester said.

"We certainly want to continue our dialogue," she said.

Community meetings at the nearby Naples Botanical Garden are planned for the fall to bring residents into the planning process.

"Let's first see what the community's top priorities are," Forester said.

The county bought the land in 2006 and 2008 for a combined $5.35 million as part of its efforts to remove trailers and spark investment. The land was appraised at $3.7 million last year.